The objective is to expand and refine an intervention for transgender women (TW) into a 7-session individual- and group-based intervention that is scalable for community settings to reduce sexual risk and substance use and to increase stigma-coping and risk-buffering behaviors among TW in NYC. The investigators will pilot test the intervention with 20 TW and subsequently, conduct a randomized controlled trial with 240 TW to compare the intervention to a wait list control condition.

The intervention focuses on exploring health goals, creating an action plan, learning about the impact stress, stigma, and substance use can have on health, improving personal growth and social support, and connecting with resources. The first two sessions will be primarily Motivational Interviewing and will explore participants' feelings about their sexual risk, substance use, non-medically monitored hormone and silicone use, and any other issues. Group sessions (Sessions 3-6) will incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Skills Training focusing barriers to physical and mental health. The last session will focus on reviewing progress toward health goals, identifying barriers to change, and generating a plan for connection to ongoing care to reach target health goals.

No Intervention: Wait List Control Condition

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

18 years of age or older

Identify as a transgender woman (assigned male at birth and currently identify as female)

Report 3 or more acts of unprotected anal or vaginal sex in the past 90 days and at least 1 in the past 30 days

Report 5 or more days of illicit drug use in the past 90 days and at least 2 in the past 30

Provide contact information

Reside in the NYC metropolitan area

Able to complete a survey in English (Spanish-language assistance can be provided by bilingual staff)

Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Unstable, serious psychiatric symptoms

Current suicidal/homicidal ideation

Evidence of gross cognitive impairment

Currently enrolled in a drug abuse treatment or enrolled in an HIV risk or drug use intervention study

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01880489